United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message on the occasion of the International Day against Nuclear Tests (IDNT) being observed on August 29 said, "Together, let us demand an end to all nuclear tests and get on with the unfinished business of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons."

The IDNT was established by the United Nations is
observed on August 29 to raise awareness "about the effects of
nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and
the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the
goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world".

In
Focus

The observance is also meant to remind the state
parties about the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
and feel committed to achieve the peace and security of a world
without nuclear weapons.

According to the United Nations, in light of today's
nuclear weapons which are far more powerful and destructive
Subsequent incidents world-wide have provided compelling reasons for
the need to observe the IDNT as a day in which educational events,
activities and messages aim to capture the world's attention and
underscore the need for a unified attempt in preventing further
nuclear weapons testing.

"It is the hope of the UN that one day all nuclear
weapons will be eliminated. Until then, there is a need to observe
International Day against Nuclear Tests as we work towards promoting
peace and security world-wide," informs the UN website.